Wasteful World Flashcards
What are the types of waste?
Biodegradable/non-biodegradable
Domestic/industrial
Hazardous/non-hazardous
Solid or liquid
What are the differences between HIC and LIC waste production?
HICs contain 20% of the worlds population but consume 86% of its products, this is due to larger disposable incomes and a consumer society. This waste is mainly Packaging, paper, E-waste and White-goods. Los Angles produce 1,250kg of waste per person every year but Abidjan, Africa, only produce 200kg of rubbish a year.
What are the differences between the types of waste HICs and LICs produce?
HICs - Paper 50%, Food 23%, Plastic 11%, Glass 6%
LICs - Food 65%, Garden 11%, Paper 6%, Plastic 8%
How is waste recycled at a local level?
Bracknell, Reading and Wokingham have dreading ‘re3’ to produce 2 recoiling centres and 150 recycling collection sites within the 3 areas.
Cans are baled at Biffa Waste Mangment facility in Southampton, then transferred to reprocessing facility in Leicester where they are re-used in cars or new cans.
Plastics are recycled by Baylis Recycling near Bristol, the bottles are then separated by their types of plastic and are re-made into new products such as garden furniture or new plastic bottles.
Glass is reprocessed in Yorkshire. The glass is washed and crushed and then mixed with raw materials such as sand and limestone to make new glass containers.
Paper and cardboard are recycled in Maidenhead where it is sorted and baled and then sent to St Regis paper mill in Kent to be re-used as packaging material.
Bracknell has a bi-weekly collection service with different coloured bins for waste, Brown bin=garden blue bin=plastic bottles and tins, green box=paper, on the alternate bin a green bin for general waste is collected and e-waste should be taken to the household recycling centres.
How does Germany (A HIC) dispose of its 14M tonnes of municipal waste?
Waste is treated before being put into one of the 160 landfill sites, a Luebeck treatment plant treats 200,000 tonnes of domestic waste annually. There are 68 incinerators, a plant at Darmstadt incinerates 212,000 tonnes annually and some provide energy to local homes. Germany recycles 60% of its waste, if a product is recycled it is given the ‘Grune Punkt’ emblem. These products cost the average family 100-200 pounds and the scheme is too successful and therefore some things have to be recycled abroad, for example plastic shampoo bottles are sent to Indonesia to be turned into sandals.
How does Germany (A HIC) dispose of its nuclear waste?
Low level waste is stored around 50 locations. High level waste is stored in Siberia and recycled in the UK and France. By 2013 Germany stored all of its low level waste, 95% of all its nuclear waste at Konrad. By 2025 Germany will have a facility at Gorleben to deal with the remaining 5%.
How does Germany dispose of its toxic products?
Between 1990 and 1995 toxic waste was shipped to Poland, Egypt, Estonia and Albania. During 1991 and 1992 48 Tonnes of toxic waste (Pesticides) were sent to Albania to be used as fertiliser. The shipment also contained 6000 litres of toxaphone which can kill wildlife and some was seeping into Lake Shkodra. The Albanian government and other nations forced Germany to take it back.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Germany using landfill?
Advantage: Old quarries can be re-used and filled up, it is cheap
Disadvantage: Land is used up. Can rot to cause future problems.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Germany using incineration?
Advantages: The heat used can produce electricity. Jobs are created
Disadvantages: Fumes are omitted, Plants are visually polluting.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Germany using Recycling?
Advantages: Less waste is put in landfill, Fewer resources are being used.
Disadvantages: Very difficult to enforce, Germany has a lack of recycling facilities, has had to export which is expensive.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Germany using Exporting?
Advantages: Other countries have to deal with it, less radioactive and toxic waste in the country. Less waste has to be incinerated or put in landfill.
Disadvantages: It is expensive to pay other countries. Germany now has an internationally bad reputation.
Why has energy consumption increased?
Between 1990-2008 the global population has grown by 27% and the average use of energy per person has increased 10%. If a country is more wealthy it will use more energy as it can provide more and people buy more electronics. Countries with a high energy supply have a higher consumption.
What environmental impacts does coal exploitation have?
Ash produced is radioactive, crops and people within 1 mile will take in radiation. Waste heaps are visually polluting and are unstable 116 children died in Aberfan in Wales when one collapsed. Contributes to global warming. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are formed which contribute to acid rain. Scandinavia has heavy acid rain which melts roots and 16% of acid rain in Norway is due to the UK.
What environmental impacts does wind exploitation have?
No CO2 is given off but transpiration, assembly and maintenance does. Takes up land but can be used on agricultural land at the same time. Kill bats, East America they are turned off when wind speed is low and 73% less bat deaths. Affects the migration of birds and in Denmark where 9% of energy is produced from wind, 30,000 birds are killed every year. New wind turbines are more bird friendly.
Where is energy lost in the home?
25% roof, 35% walls, 15% through the floors. 10% through windows, 15% through draughts.
